POWER UP! Preparing Florida’s Students for Tomorrow’s Economy Jennifer Grove Gulf Power Company Florida Energy Workforce Consortium

Formed in 2006 to develop solutions to meet the current and future workforce needs of Florida’s energy industry Comprised of energy industry, construction, preK – 12 and post-secondary education, and workforce representatives Compete for a talent puddle or work together to build a talent pool?

Florida’s Economy 20 th largest in the world Also hit by recession – have lost 7M jobs 19M Floridians (4 th largest state – will surpass New York to become 3 rd in next 10 years) By 2020…+2.5M / +1.4M Net New Jobs By 2030…+5M

Are We Ready for 2030? “Florida needs to plan better and grow smarter over the next 7 million people than we did during the last 7 million.” Steve Halverson, President & CEO, The Haskell Company & Chair of the Florida Chamber of Commerce

“Talent is the new economic development currency.” Mark Wilson President & CEO Florida Chamber of Commerce

Implications of Educational Achievement 15.5% 11.2% 9% 4.7% $19,900 $25,800 $31,600 $41,700 Less than high school graduate High school diploma only Some college or Associate's degree Bachelor's degree or higher Unemployment Rate AWI, October 2009; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2008; Median Earnings

Talent Supply is Our #1 Priority

Talent Supply is FEWC #1 Priority A qualified, diverse workforce – for us and our contractors Various career entry points with various educational attainments Pipeline of students Core values

FEWC Top Occupations of Concern Line Installers and Repairers Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters Welders Maintenance and Repair Workers Electricians Engineering Technicians Engineers (electrical, mechanical, chemical, civil…) Instrumentation & Control Technicians Power Plant Operators

How do we address our needs? Career Awareness to drive students to pipeline programs –Careers in Energy Week: October 18 – 22 new in 2010 –State-wide student competition to brand energy careers ( –Recognize winners at Florida Science Fair and Florida SkillsUSA with get into energy Florida branded items/info –Energy summer camps –BEST and FIRST Robotics competitions

Partnership with STEMflorida Funded through Workforce Florida, Inc. as a business- led initiative that will result in the alignment of all STEM program activities; Focus on PreK to advanced degree STEM education programs, activities and research aligning to workforce expectations; Sustainable organization/process will be created such that all STEM initiatives in Florida successfully connect, align and cooperate to achieve the common goal of improving demand-driven talent production in STEM

Pipeline Program: Energy Career Academies Have 22 in Florida, including our Gulf Power Academy at West Florida High School in Pensacola (2001) Many utilize NCCER Electrical curriculum, resulting in industry-recognized and valued credentials Most offer articulation, energy industry pre-employment testing, and local energy company engagement Will pilot the new energy courses at Gulf Power Academy and Lakeland Electric Power Academy at a minimum in Fall, 2011

Florida’s Approach to Secondary Certifications: CAPE Career and Professional Education Act –Legislation enacted in 2007 –Builds on rich history of career education to bring industry-driven credentials as driver for curriculum and increased funding factor Most Energy Career Academies are CAPE Academies

Florida’s Approach to Secondary Certifications: CAPE Registered Academies: – : 838 – : 1,302 Certifications Granted to Students: – : 2,732 – : 16,459

Pipeline Program: Banner Center for Energy Florida’s industry-driven resource for post- secondary energy workforce education and training Located at Indian River State College but with educational partners across Florida Focus on industry-driven degree and certificate programs to meet needs of energy industry in Florida (nuclear, non- nuclear generation and distribution) Offer entry-level, advanced-level, and skills upgrade training

New ENERGY cluster Partnered with Florida Department of Education to gain approval for the addition of an Energy Industry Cluster - FIRST IN NATION! Partnered with FDOE to develop energy curriculum framework for five (5) courses: –Energy Foundations –Introduction to Alternative Energy –Power Generation Technician –Power Distribution Technician –Solar Energy Technician

Focus on Credentials Portable/stackable (Energy Competency Model) Industry-driven: –Secondary: new curriculum frameworks and courses; CAPE –Post-secondary: Banner Center for Energy Responsive

Final thoughts… Have to continue to update these credentials (add to the stack) as new industry skillsets drive need for new training Want to go national when possible; when can’t, we develop the Florida solution Entry-level requirements vary across FEWC member companies, so we look to the common requirements

Jennifer Grove